It looks like I'll be in Portland sometime this summer! My boyfriend and I are looking into visiting the Ape Caves while we're in PDX. Who has experience with the Ape Caves? What can you tell me about this lava tube? Will we have to rent a car to get there? Is it worth the visit?

I grew up in the area (my family actually settled a small town outside of Cougar) and I've been to the Ape Caves more times than I can count. I love them and always suggest them to visitors! There is an "easy" tube and a "hard" tube - I recommend both if you have the time but if you don't, the easy one is still fun. The area around the tubes is just gorgeous. The lahar fields are awesome and it looks like the Plains of Abraham hike will take you along some.

You will have to rent a car to visit (I don't know of any tour companies that go out there). The Forest Pass is the day use fee and you can buy it at the Ape Caves parking lot.